A 45-year-old woman presented with a 10-day history of visual disturbance and bilateral central scotoma. This had been preceded by a one-month history of headache. Her corrected visual acuity was 0.2 in the right eye and 0.8 in the left eye. Slit lamp examination revealed no obvious inflammation in the anterior chamber or vitreous. Fundus examination of both eyes showed bilateral SRD in the posterior pole (Fig. 1A). Fluorescein angiography of both eyes showed multifocal hyperfluorescence beneath the detachment in the early phase and diffuse subretinal accumulation of fluorescein in the late phase (Fig. 1B). Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed serous retinal detachment with increased reflectivity in the choroid layers of both eyes (Fig. 1C). Neither neurologic nor dermatologic signs were present on physical examination. A blood test revealed leukocytosis of 53.9×10³/µL with 64.6% lymphoblasts. The hemoglobin level was 8.5 gm/dL with a hematocrit of 24.9% and a platelet count of 208,000/µL. The clotting screen was within normal limits, and the autoantibody screen was negative. Serum urate (7.69 mg/dL) and C-reactive protein (0.421 mg/dL) were within normal limits. Renal and liver function was normal.

Based on the ocular findings and hematological abnormalities, the patient was referred to a hematologist, who performed a bone marrow aspiration. Analysis of the aspirate showed 94% lymphoblasts, confirming the diagnosis of ALL. Cytochemistry and immunophenotyping characterized the leukemia as precursor B-cell ALL (L1). Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis showed t(9;22) and minor bcr-abl fusion mRNA. The final diagnosis was Ph⁺ ALL. Neurological examination, including lumbar puncture and magnetic resonance imaging, showed no involvement of the central nervous system. The patient was enrolled in a course of remission induction chemotherapy consisting of intravenous daunorubicin, vincristine, and methylprednisolone. One month after induction therapy was initiated, she was treated with consolidation chemotherapy consisting of intravenous methotrexate, cytarabine and methylprednisolone. Intrathecal methotrexate was administrated as prophylaxis for central nervous system involvement. Thereafter, two additional cycles of consolidation chemotherapy were administered. Throughout the whole treatment period, the patient was also given imatinib once daily to inhibit the activity of the bcr-abl fusion protein.

One month after induction therapy was initiated, fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and OCT showed complete resolution of the bilateral SRD (Fig. 2). Visual acuity had improved to 1.0 in both eyes. Four months after the initiation of induction therapy, the patient was in complete remission with no ocular symptoms.

Ocular changes in leukemia are varied and may involve all ocular and adnexal tissues [7]. Most ocular manifestations occur secondary to direct leukemic infiltration of the ocular structures; hematologic abnormalities such as thrombocytopenia, anemia, leucopenia, or hyperviscosity; opportunistic infections; or secondary to the treatment of the leukemia itself [7,8]. In the fundus, common manifestations include retinal vascular sheathing, cotton wool spots, white-centered retinal hemorrhages, nodular infiltrates, and optic nerve head infiltrates [1,7,9]. These fundus changes are common during the course of the disease; they have been reported to occur in up to 90% of patients with leukemia [1]. However, SRD has been reported less commonly in the setting of acute leukemia [1-3]. SRD is even less common as the initial finding in this disease. In the majority of cases, systemic disease has already been diagnosed prior to the development of ocular symptoms [4-6]. Most of the previously reported cases of ALL with SRD have involved younger patients [6,10,11]. Our patient was a 45-year-old woman whose visual impairment was caused by bilateral SRD and led to a diagnosis of ALL.

SRD in the setting of leukemia has been reported to be shallow in the posterior pole [3,10]. Fluorescein angiographic findings in previous studies have demonstrated multifocal hyperfluorescence beneath the detachment in the early phase and diffuse subretinal accumulation of fluorescein in the late phase [3,10]; we noted similar findings in our case. SRD may develop as a result of choroidal involvement by leukemic cells causing retinal pigment epithelial disturbances or due to incompetence of the outer blood-retinal barrier inducing retinal pigment epithelial changes [3,12].

The differential diagnosis of SRD includes Harada's syndrome, central serous choroidopathy, uveal effusion syndrome, age-related macular degeneration, choroidal hemangioma, and metastatic neoplasm. Bilateral SRD and multifocal hyperfluorescence beneath the detachment in the early phase of fluorescein angiography would support Harada's syndrome as the most likely diagnosis. However, our case showed no inflammatory reaction in the anterior chamber or vitreous. Furthermore, the absence of neurologic and dermatologic signs, such as dysacusis, vitiligo, and poliosis, is not consistent with Harada's syndrome.

Intraocular manifestations of leukemia are not usually treated directly. Systemic chemotherapy is recommended first. When definite leukemic infiltrates fail to respond promptly to chemotherapy, ocular radiation is implemented [1]. In our case, the patient received only systemic chemotherapy, and the SRD resolved completely with full recovery of visual acuity. This suggests that leukemic cells had infiltrated into the choroid in the area of the SRD. Therefore, we assume that the SRD was a manifestation of ALL. This also suggests that systemic chemotherapy alone can preserve visual acuity if performed early.

Our patient had Ph⁺ ALL. Recent advances in therapy have resulted in better survival for ALL patients. However, older age and specific cytogenetic abnormalities, such as the Philadelphia chromosome, a reciprocal translocation between chromosome 9 and 22, t(9;22)(q34;q11), are adverse prognostic factors in ALL [13]. Therefore, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for securing a favorable prognosis, especially in high-risk ALL patients. Our case illustrates that prompt treatment after diagnosis, even in a patient with Ph⁺ ALL, can result in complete resolution of SRD and allow for full restoration of visual function.

In conclusion, bilateral SRD may be the first sign of ALL. Thus, ophthalmologists should consider a thorough systemic evaluation for leukemia in patients with sudden SRD.